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What is the best option for a one-year stay in Bangkok: an Education Visa or something else?

Education VisaVisa OptionsLiving in ThailandExpat LifeVisa Regulations
Nov 5, 2018
6 years ago
Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
As a complete noobie..

At 35, my best option at living in Bangkok for 1 year - would be an Education Visa?

Anyone have any experience with that? Self Defence or Language or can recommend a better way to stay for 1 year (reason for 1 year is I found an apartment with 1 year contract).

Cheers all, wont ask any more questions :)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A complete newbie considering a one-year stay in Bangkok has asked about the best visa options, particularly an Education Visa (ED visa), and others suggested various alternatives. Community responses included personal experiences with the ED visa, information on visa runs, and advice to consult visa specialists. While some members warned against misusing the ED visa, others pointed out its legitimacy for actual learning. Options like a multi-entry tourist visa, volunteer visa, and the Elite visa were also discussed as possible solutions for long-term stays.
Tod *********
The easiest visa to stay long term on is the 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa

Unfortunately for you no thai consulate in S/E Asia will sell it unless you live in that country. People usually get it BEFORE they wing their way here. You could go back to your country to get it or you could go to one of the thai consulates in Australia (Perth is the closest) because they don't have the residency requirement and will sell it to you if you meet the financial requirements

As far as an ED visa, your best bet is to get out there and visit schools to see what is available what the minimum attendance hours required are and what the tuition is. The ED visa can work, but you're going to actually study something not pretend to. The immigration office has gotten wise to people who enroll in something and just go thru the motions of studying to get the visa

Good Luck (y)
6 years ago
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James ********
Hey mate, on an ED visa in Rawai Phuket.
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baht for the school, with that they sort all the paperwork needed to go make the visa. School advised me go to Laos to apply as its the easiest consulate to deal with. Think the application was 1900 baht in Laos 🤔 anyways, every 3 months have to do an extension at immigration which is another 5000 baht which have been straight forward (once again paperwork taken care of by school). Hope this helps, best of luck
6 years ago
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James ********
@Sergey ********
 ffs, here I am singing their praises😐 lol
6 years ago
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Shannon ********
Just changed for edvisa. Gotta extend every 2 months
6 years ago
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Sergey *********
@James *******
 the extension itself costs 1900 baht every time. Extra 3100 goes to school for "taking care" of you =)
6 years ago
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Sergey *********
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Chris ******
I had an edu visa for the past year. Ends next week. Incredibly stressful getting all the paperwork together, once granted everything is easy just 90day check ins for a new stamp.
6 years ago
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Shannon *************
@Chris *****
 maybe it was the school
6 years ago
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Chris ******
All my school every did was reply ka to every question I had. It wasn't the greatest of experiences but it worked out.
6 years ago
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Shannon *************
I ask because that’s my next visa
6 years ago
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Shannon *************
Don’t the school just prepare it for you?
6 years ago
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Shannon *************
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Visa Elite seems decent, 5 years for 500k, thats doable. Thanks everyone
6 years ago
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Aaron ******
Christian Daviez and I believe they now have a 20 year (4 x 5 year visas) for 1 million baht.

For those who will spend most of their time in Thailand for the next 20 years it is a fairly good value.

And you never have to leave the country.

Basically a limited residency program.
6 years ago
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Aaron ******
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Roger *********
Go see a visa specialist
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
any idea where too?
6 years ago
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Christov ********
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Robert *******
NO, an Education visa is to learn something in Thailand, not for pretending you go school just to be in Thailand.
6 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Biff ******
 sorry I will delete
6 years ago
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Biff *******
@Adam ********
 that’s not what I was replying to.
6 years ago
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James **********
Christian Daviez Robert Lagas is a very respected mod in this group. I think if you want reasonable answers to your question it behooves you to drop the attitude. And no Im not a friend of Mr Robert Lagas Ive just observed how he helps others on here.
6 years ago
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Biff *******
Ok mate. Whatever you say.
6 years ago
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Dan **********
5 year elite visa, 500,000 baht, break it down monthly it works out pretty reasonable, I've got one and am very happy with their service so far
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Biff ******
 is only in your mind, everyone else is cool.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
 Then your English is fantastic for a none Native speaker, nice one. And yeah, ive been an Admin for Facebook groups, and I can appreciate that nearly every question is dumb or looking for ways around the rules. So all good, understandable.
6 years ago
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Robert *******
I'm not a native English speaker, I always have problems to read the question and start thinking what people supposed to mean with that question. I just answer on the written question. I don't waste my time with what did he actually want or what does he actually want to ask.
6 years ago
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Biff *******
Ok mate. No real need for the animosity though is there.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Biff ******
 Admin of a Facebook group, as if that gets on peoples CVS as career highlight - I asked an honest question and dont need to treated like I would abuse anything, was simply asking if there was another Visa knocking around that I didnt hear about - thus - this Elite visa I havent heard of before, and thus great, Ive learnt something.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
 Best way to stay yeah, didnt stay best way to stay like a dickhead, i fully respect the education visa is for education, and something like the self-defence one would be awesome and id probably go more times than even needed. Just dont need to assume the worst for all people, even tho this is facebook. Thanks for your 2nd comment, much better ill look into more what you say, cheers pal.
6 years ago
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Biff *******
Having a pop at a group admin. Perhaps not the best move for “a complete noobie”.
6 years ago
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Robert *******
You asked for the best way to stay, not the best way to learn something. Seeing that your are Self Employed, if you want or need to work inside Thailand than the Non Immigrant B visa and the Work Permit, if you stay for holiday than the multiple entry tourist Visa, you apply before you come here and when good timed it can give you almost 270 days out of it. After that you can apply for a Single Entry Tourist Visa in a neighbor country to make the full year.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
At what point did I say I would pretend to go to school?

Welcome to facebook, where 1 in 3, act like this guy.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
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Ron ******************
Okay newbie welcome. Let me start with, from which country are you? Do you care about visa runs and border bounces ? My personal view without all the info is, yes an ED would be the more relaxed way of staying here for a year. The only problem is many come for a year and then want to stay longer which is where it is becoming more tricky. Goodluck and enjoy.learn something would be great.
6 years ago
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Mary ********
Check on getting an undergraduate degree. Many Universities here offer the degrees in English. For about
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th the cost of a UK degree. Already have a 4 year degree? Do post graduate work or pick up a second major. The Thai language schools and the Muay Thai schools realize they have a "captive" audience and are charging more than legitimate University degrees.
6 years ago
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Ron ******************
Christian Daviez if you come to learn something the Ed visa is the way to go. You pay for enriching your life and will get the living experience with it. Roberts view is however correct that misusing this visa is not the way to go as it could force immigration over the longerterm to take it away or make it more difficult.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Im from the UK. Ive been there about 1 year before, but I was flying out every few months. I didnt like having to race to the border so much, its not really "freedom" lol.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
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Barry ******
Muay Thai or Thai language.

Or if you’re loaded, go for the elite visa.
6 years ago
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James ********
I dont think Muay Thai is available in Bangkok. Chiang Mai has it. Search this forum.
6 years ago
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Mark ***********
volunteer visa if you can wangle being sponsored as a volunteer.
6 years ago
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Christov ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Muay Thai seems cool
6 years ago
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Christov ********
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